Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung – Dozens of residents of Riau Silip village, Bangka regency, attacked people and equipment Tuesday over a land dispute.

The residents set fire to a car, motorcycle and heavy equipment owned by agricultural company PT THEP. They also vandalized the local government office. Bangka Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sudarsono confirmed the incident to Antara on Wednesday. He said the residents accused the company of expanding its operations onto 28 hectares of land owned by the people of the village.

Three of the company's employees were injured in the incident and taken to hospital for treatment.

Riau Silip district chief Basuni expressed regret over the attack on his office. "The district office belongs to the government. Why did the protesters damage it?" he was quoted by Antara.

PT THEP spokesperson Rohana denied the company had trespassed onto the villagers' land.